Related Experiment Videos
[Ileus after the use of loperamide in a child with acute diarrhea]
J Dudink1, L M Mearin, R N Sukhai
1Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden. dudink@rdgg.nl
Insights
Loperamide, an antimotility drug, caused paralytic ileus in a 2-year-old child with acute gastroenteritis. This case highlights that antimotility agents are generally unsuitable for treating severe diarrhea in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis is a common pediatric illness.
- Loperamide is an antimotility medication used to manage diarrhea.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old girl with severe diarrhea was treated with loperamide solution.
- The patient subsequently developed paralytic ileus.
Findings:
- Conservative management with parenteral fluid and electrolyte administration led to recovery within 48 hours.
- The case suggests a contraindication for loperamide in young children with acute diarrhea.
Implications:
- Antimotility drugs like loperamide should be avoided in young children experiencing acute diarrhea.
- This case underscores the potential risks of pharmacologic intervention in pediatric gastroenteritis.
Abstract:
A 2-year-old girl was diagnosed as having acute gastroenteritis with severe diarrhoea, for which she was prescribed a loperamide solution. Following this she developed paralytic ileus. She was then treated conservatively and was administered fluid and electrolytes parenterally. She started to recover after 48 hours. In young children with acute diarrhoea there usually is no place for medicinal treatment, and certainly not with antimotility drugs such as loperamide.